Deciduous, woody stem Salvias

These are species that produce woody stems, but die back to the ground in the winter in all but the warmest climates. In warm winter areas these can become woody shrubs, but they generally benefit from the following pruning methods.

Pruning is both an art and a science. It takes practice, experience and learning from your mistakes to become a proficient pruner. The pruning information about this plant should be considered as a guideline for getting started. Your particular climate, soils, watering and fertility schedules, sun exposure, space requirements and weather are all factors that influence how and when you choose to prune. We’re providing a starting place for you, and over time you will learn the particularities of this plant in your garden. Don’t be afraid to get started – Salvias, in general, are quick to rebound if inappropriately pruned.

Deadheading – the removal of spent flowers, is a practice that will always benefit the plant’s health and appearance. This can be done at any time. Pruning involves removal of entire stems of spent growth. Becoming "spent" means that flowering stems stop blooming and begin going to seed.

Growing Season Pruning

During the spring and summer, you can completely or partially remove any stems that have finished blooming and are becoming unsightly. This often stimulates fresh new growth and increased flowering

Dormant Season Pruning

At the end of the growing season or after first frost, spent stems can be cut to the ground. Some gardeners in cold winter climates say that leaving 3 to 6 inches of the stems intact during the winter improves survivability. They remove the remaining stems before new growth begins in the spring. In warmer areas the stems may never completely die back, but should be cut to ground to allow for new growth.

Hummingbirds love Salvia (sage) nectar and are attracted to it by the bright colors of tubular sage blossoms. In particular, these little whirlybirds can easily spot flowers in the red spectrum, which is prevalent among sages. Here are some hummingbird gardening tips.

Provide lots of color. Think of yourself as a cafeteria manager who needs to provide many tempting choices in order to attract business. Red, pink, orange and purple sages are particularly powerful hummingbird magnets.

Keep your garden blooming. Plant a variety of Salvias based not only on color but also a broad span of bloom times. Many flower from spring into fall. Others are prolific fountains of nectar for shorter seasons. Numerous winter-blooming species are available for areas that are home to hummingbirds year round.

Grow sages native to the Western Hemisphere. Although hummingbirds will take advantage of many kinds of tubular flowering plants, these tiny birds are native to the Western Hemisphere and prefer flowering plants native to their half of the world.

Supplement plantings with feeder tubes. Change the sugar water every few days and don't add food coloring. Keep the feeders clean, but don't scrub them with soaps or detergents. Here is more feeder care information.

If you live in suburbs or rural areas where deer plunder gardens, Salvias (sages) can be part of your plan for discouraging these hungry visitors. Here are some tips.

Mask smells that deer like with aromatic sages. Deer and other members of the Cervidae family, such as elk, mostly leave Salvias alone. One theory is that they don't like the fragrance or taste of sage chemicals. Strategically planting sages near vegetable gardens or fruit trees -- elixir to deer -- may prevent consumption.

Grow hedges including Salvias. Prickly hedges, including hairy-leafed Salvias and exceptionally thorny roses, can discourage deer from entering your yard. They don't like the mouth-feel of those textures. Tall hedges also hide strawberry beds and other yummy plantings from view.

Don't overplant one species. Grow a variety of Salvias in case local deer take an unexpected liking to one species of sage.

Fence deer out. Install electric fences or 8-foot wood or metal fences around particularly vulnerable areas. Make sure electric fencing is turned on during the peak feeding seasons of early spring and late fall.

Use motion-detection tools. Install outdoor lighting that is activated by movement.

Let the dogs out. Deer are especially wary of large dogs.

Surround and cover. Wrap tough plastic around the trunks of trees that have tasty bark and cover foliage with bird netting when trees and bushes are fruiting.

You can rely on a quality experience with Flowers by the Sea Nursery, because we:

Ship only large, healthy plants

Carefully package your purchase

Contract with UPS for rapid, safe delivery direct to your door and

Don't raise plant prices to artificially subsidize low shipping fees.

UPS rate structure makes it possible for us to decrease the shipping price per plant as order size increases. Also our advance order process lets you select delayed shipment based on available shipping dates. Remember, FBTS guarantees satisfaction.

We are continually propagating most Salvia varieties, to be able to ship to you plants "in their prime", ideal for planting out. Generally we maintain a relatively small number of any given plant in inventory. We can often grow larger quantities to meet specific needs. If you are looking for more than what we have in our current inventory, please contact us.

Salvia sp. SL411

Rated:

(Mystery Peruvian Sage) Airy spikes of fuzzy, bright orange-red flowers and grassy green calyxes mark this Peruvian sage as a mystery worth pursuing. Little is certain about its parentage, according to Argentinian Salvia specialist Rolando Uria of the University of Buenos Aires and Salvias.com.ar.

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This is the non-scientific name used for a plant. A plant may have several common names, depending on the gardener's location. To further confuse the matter, a common name may be shared by several completely different plants. At Flowers by the Sea, we rely on the scientific name to identify our plants and avoid confusion.

Mystery Peruvian Sage

USDA Zones

The U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones indicate the temperature zones where a plant is likely to thrive. It is determined by the average annual winter minimum temperature. Actual winter temperatures may be higher or lower than the average.

This is the average amount of sunlight that a plant needs to thrive. Generally, full sun exposure is 6 or more hours of direct sun daily while partial shade is less than 4 hours of sun or dappled shade all day. Plants may tolerate more sunlight in cooler climates and need afternoon shade in extremely hot climates.

Full sun to partial shade

Soil type

This is the kind of soil that a plant needs to thrive. Most plants require a well-drained soil that allows the water to soak into the soil without becoming soggy. Sandy and clay soils can be improved by digging in compost to improve drainage.

Well drained & rich

Water needs

Plants have specific water requirements. Water loving means the plant needs regular watering to keep the soil moist. Average generally indicates applying 1 inch of water per week, or watering when the soil is dry to a depth of 3 to 4 inches. One inch of water is equal to 5 gallons per square yard of soil surface.

Average

Pot size

This is the size of the pot your plant will arrive in.

3 1/2 inch deep pot

Container plant?

"Yes" indicates that this plant can be successfully grown as a container plant.

The UK's leading Salvia expert, Robin Middleton, notes, at his Robin's Salvias website, that the University of Reading is studying SL411.

SL411 may be related to three kinds of Salvias, including striata, S. squalens or S. tubiflora.

Middleton says that it is the large leaves of SL411 that seem to connect it to S. squalens.

SL411 is a long-blooming, high-altitude sage that grows rapidly and easily in full sun to partial shade with rich but well-drained soil. It is a water-loving tender perennial. Hummingbirds enjoy its nectar.

Here are some guidelines for success with this plant in your garden.

Click on an individual icon for more detailed information.

Exposure

Full Sun

This plant needs or tolerates more than six hours of intense sunlight daily. Many Salvias only thrive in wide-open locations where they receive long hours of full sun. However, full-sun species sometimes tolerate a bit of partial shade. Or a Salvia that loves partial shade may be amenable to spending part of its time in full sun.

In general, this sun/shade adaptability shows up in Salvias that do best in cooler climates when grown in full sun and thrive in hot climates when partial shade is available. So full-sun Salvias sometimes are also categorized as partial-shade plants and vice versa.

Full sun

Heat Tolerant

This plant can handle extreme heat.

Full-sun Salvias that don’t like any shade are among the most heat tolerant. Heat-loving Salvias also are often drought tolerant. Moisture-conserving features, such as fuzzy leaves, help them stay perky at high temperatures.

Heat-tolerant Salvias are fine choices for western and southern exposures.

Heat tolerant

Partial Shade

This plant grows well in partial shade, such as the kind on the edge of woodlands or under deciduous trees with breaks in the foliage through which dappled sunlight penetrates. Many Salvias thrive in partial shade, including ones that spend part of their day in full sunlight. Some species need partial shade to overcome severe heat and dry soil.

Partial shade

Garden Uses

Containers

This plant grows well in an outdoor container, such as on a patio.

Some containerized Salvias leaf out and flower year after year following a period of dormancy. Annuals in containers may die back and appear to grow again when they reseed.

During extreme heat, check the soil in container plantings once or twice daily to be sure it doesn't completely dry out. Feel its surface for coolness, then gently poke a finger into the soil to check for dryness.

Container plant

Growing Habit

Zone(s) 9 - 11

Plant hardiness Zones defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture tell you the minimum temperatures a plant can withstand in your garden. The USDA divides the nation into winter climate areas from coldest (Zone 1) to warmest (Zone 11).

However, it is sometimes possible to grow a Zone 6 Salvia as a perennial in Zone 5 if you provide preferential care, such as winter mulching and a location sheltered from harsh winds. In contrast, a Zone 9 Salvia may act like a perennial in Zone 10 if given a bit of shade or extra water.

9 - 11

36 inches tall

To create a harmonious landscape plan, it is important to consider the heights of individual plants.

Height also affects function. Short Salvias often make excellent ground covers that conserve soil moisture and discourage weeds while also brightening your yard. Medium-height Salvias, such as ones 36 inches tall, often are ideal border plants. A tall Salvia planted singly can highlight a landscape; multiple plantings can form an attractive screen.

36 inches tall

36 inches wide

By considering the width of a plant, you can determine how many to place in a row or what other plants to grow with it.

For example, a narrow, moderate-height Salvia may look good interplanted with bushier species, kind of like Mutt and Jeff.

In contrast, wide-spreading Salvias are economical for hiding lengths of wall and fence or for creating hedge-like divisions in a yard.

36 inches wide

Perennial

Plant this herbaceous species in the USDA Zones where it grows as a perennial, returning year after year.

After dying back to the ground at frost, herbaceous perennials emerge in the Spring with soft, new growth. A Salvia that is perennial in one region, may be an annual in another depending on local conditions, such as winter temperatures.

If you live in USDA Zone 5, for example, Salvias in our catalog cited as growing well in Zone 5 or lower will be perennial. Those cited as doing well in Zones 6 or higher may do well in Zone 5, but generally will act like annuals coming back from seed instead of the parent plant’s roots.

Perennial

Water Needs

Average

This plant needs regular watering based on what is appropriate to your local conditions.

In some extremely hot, arid climates, this may mean daily watering in Summer. Although many drought-resistant Salvias survive on little to no watering due to local rainfall and deep roots meeting their moisture needs, others need regular doses. The size and frequency of the dose depends on your climate.

Average water

Water Loving

This plant thrives on or at least tolerates lots of water, especially when soil is well drained.

A number of Salvias hold up well in areas where rainfall is a regular occurrence. Some even tolerate boggy conditions. These are usually top-notch plants for regions of the country, such as the Southeast, where summers are soggy.

Water loving

Blooming Season

Fall

This plant reaches peak bloom in Fall or flowers for much of the season.

It may begin flowering much earlier in the year. Bloom time for some Salvias lasts from Spring till first frost. Others begin flowering in Summer and continue into Fall. There are also Salvias that don’t bloom until late Fall and continue into Winter if grown in mild-Winter areas.

There is a great deal of overlap in blooming seasons for Salvias.

Fall blooming

Summer

This plant reaches peak bloom in Summer or flowers for much of the season.

Lots of Summer bloomers start flowering in Spring; others begin in Summer and keep up the show of color until frost.

There is a great deal of overlap in blooming seasons for Salvias.

Summer blooming

Wildlife

Deer

Unless local forage is in short supply, most deer likely will avoid this plant.

It appears that deer dislike Salvias, in general, due to their volatile oils that make the plants so fragrant and savory in cooking. However, the only completely deer-proof plants are the ones grown beyond reach.

Deer resistant

Hummingbirds

Based on our experience and reports from customers, hummingbirds (Trochilidae spp.) love this plant.

Hummingbirds exist only in the Americas where their 300-plus species are particularly fond of the nectar in brightly colored Salvias from the Western Hemisphere. However, if favorites aren’t available, they dine on the nectar of most Salvias.

Colors

Salvias and their companion plants pop with color. Sweep your eyes from top to the bottom here for an impression of this plant's color combinations. The first row displays blossoms from primary to less dominant shades and includes any contrasting throat color. The second tier is the main hue of leaf-like bracts or calyxes supporting the flowers. Foliage (one or two colors) leafs out in the bottom row.

We based our analysis of this plant’s floral and foliar color on the internationally standardized color system published by the U.K.’s Royal Horticultural Society. Called the RHS Large Colour Charts, this publication is a boxed set of color swatches arranged in fans and containing all the colors that RHS has identified in horticulture. RHS gives each color a common name and code number.

Each swatch has a small hole punched into it. We place the swatch over a flower petal and compare the blossom’s color to that of the card. When using RHS colors to compare plants that you want to combine in a flowerbed, in bouquets or in some other manner, RHS says to view them indoors in north light. If you are matching our digital swatches to flowers already in your garden, pluck two or three fully open blossoms of each plant that requires analysis.

You may find that the plant you receive from FBTS varies somewhat in color from what appears in our color analysis or our photograph due to a number of factors, including:

Variations in photographic colors based on lighting level at different times of day

Differences in the resolution of digital screens

Seasonal changes in plant color due to changes in temperature and plant cycle and

pH or soil chemistry that varies from one locale to another and causes color shifts.

Testimonials

I have always been a salvia fan and when I lived in CA I had hundreds of plants. When I moved to NJ I was in a cold climate and nurseries in the area did not compare with the SF Bay Area. I actually stumbled upon your website one late summer and ordered Zone 6 hardy plants. When they arrived I...

Steve Stahl

Amistad is THE perfect salvia--just a wonderful size, and it blooms like crazy, even here in Iowa! Now, if only my ruby-throated hummies would find it. Buying them later in the season, they didn't get the prime pieces of real estate, but I'm sure the little hummingbirds will love it as much as...

Linda

This is my second year purchasing plants from Flowers by the Sea. Again, it was a great experience. My order came as promised, packed well, and the plants are great. Can't wait til the hummingbirds come visiting, just like they did last year.

Linda E Lane

This has been the best packaging of plants I have ever seen. They arrived in good condition and I will plant them today.

Annemarie Bristow

I love the salvia's that I received! They were beautiful, healthy and in-bloom. I will buy more in the future.

Daphne

the salvias I ordered were the most robust and healthy looking plants I have ever seen. I especially liked the hardening off and planting guidelines and tips. unfortunately work called me away for a week and the plants weathered a week of brutal Georgia heat, humidity and drought unattended. when...

jim

Have been ordering plants for 3 years and have never received an improperly packaged plant or had a plant die. Love their instructions and information about each plant. Have had to call on two occasions and talked to a real person who answered my questions. Love their website.

Sharon

I only got to find out about fbts this year, 2017, and I am sorry I didn't get to know about it earlier. The side is loaded with information, the offer is impressive, the quality of the plants I received was superb and they did wonderfully well in the garden. Couldn't ask for more.
I emailed...

Alejandro Prigollini

I purchased Salvia Arizonica and Oxalis from Flowers By The Sea. Gardening has been my hobby and passion for over 40 years. The plants that FBTS shipped to me were in pristine condition ... the root systems were appropriately developed and the foliage looked like wonderfully fresh leaves that one...

Richard

In one word? WOW! May the Lord continue to bless you and yours to prosper.